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Throughout our daily routines, we rarely take pause to appreciate the magic behind municipal water and wastewater systems. These systems treat and deliver clean drinking water directly to our faucets. They also take and treat the wastewater that goes down our toilets and sinks. The infrastructure behind the magic is buried beneath our yards and streetscapes—often out of sight and out of mind.

at Globe Forum 2018 and beyond

By Jessica Pelchat

We’ve heard it all before. Business needs to get on-board with sustainability.

A study published in 2017 on Changing Consumer Behaviour shows that ”Consumers are no longer interested in the dichotomy between the environment and the economy,” they don’t feel they should have to choose.

Rather, they should be able to have both. Many businesses have begun to make changes; however, these need to stem from a true science-based understanding of sustainability to drive real transformation and disrupt the “business-as-usual” mentality.

In the late fall of 2008, The Natural Step Canada launched an initiative to train and develop young leaders and champions of sustainability. The project expanded in 2011 when we partnered with The Co-operators to deliver this training under the IMPACT! brand.

TNS Canada is today announcing the culmination of its Natural Capital Lab (NCL) - a project launched in 2015 to catalyze and galvanize work on issues related to natural capital.

Since its inception TNS Canada has used the synergistic power of the science of sustainability, systems thinking, and collaboration to help others accelerate the transition to a truly sustainable society. We were very excited, therefore, when we were approached by the Ivey Foundation and the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada to mobilize, coordinate and shine a light on the important, but largely fragmented work of those trying to incorporate the measurement and management of natural capital into the decision making of public and private sector organizations.

STAFFING ANNOUNCEMENT

Chad Park to be on Partial Sabbatical Leave from Jan. 15 to June 30, 2018

The Natural Step Canada (TNS Canada) is today announcing that Chad Park, Chief Innovation Officer & Director of the Energy Futures Lab (EFL), will be taking a partial sabbatical leave from January 15 to June 30, 2018.

During this period Chad will work remotely from Costa Rica - reducing his availability to three days per week - with the remainder of his time being used for professional development, independent study, research, and​ ​writing ​projects​ that are expected to accrue future benefit to the organization.

Did you know that more than 50,000 oil and gas workers are struggling to find employment in Alberta? To Lliam, these workers are the key to enabling a growing and more diverse renewable energy economy.

Did you know that there are millions of unused cargo containers filling shipping yards across Canada? Most people see them as waste; but to Greg, they are a reusable construction material to help revolutionize the housing market.

Ottawa, ON – September 25, 2017 – The Natural Step Canada is proud to announce that the Energy Futures Lab has been named one of Canada’s Top 20 Projects by the Clean50 Awards for outstanding contributors to clean capitalism.

The Energy Futures lab explores this question: How can Alberta’s leadership role in today’s energy system serve as a platform for transition to the energy system the future needs? It is a groundbreaking, Alberta-based multi-stakeholder initiative addressing the deeply polarized and polarizing nature of public dialogue on energy issues.

Over a dozen EFL fellows took to the stage and shared their vision to repurpose Alberta’s existing assets and retain its reputation as a global energy leader. From our numerous retired well sites, to our unemployed workforce, our diverse communities, even our carbon waste; the possibilities to reclaim, retrain, reunite, and reengineer left the audience undeniably energized and eager to engage.